Nexus 10 vs. iPad 4 - spec shoot-out

So, now that the Samsung Nexus 10 has been announced, how does it stack up against the competition? The big tablet to beat right now is the 4th-generation iPad, and as you can tell by the tale of the tape, it's a close race. We also line up the Nexus 10 against the new Microsoft Surface, the BlackBerry PlayBook, and the lower-end Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for good measure.

iOS 6 versus Android 4.2 is a hard comparison to make just yet, but there are a lot of cool new features coming in the latest version of Jelly Bean that stand a good chance of blowing iOS 6 out of the water. Apple's latest mobile operating system only just added panorama photography, while Google's Sphere Photos add a whole new dimension to the idea. The QR code-dependent Passbook might be a bit more widely-accepted than NFC-based Android equivalents, but at least Android still has rock-solid Google Maps and built-in YouTube support. We'll have more on Android 4.2 once we get our hands on it.

The 10-inch 2560 x 1600 display on the N10 soundly beats out the 2048 x 1536 display on the new iPad. There's no cellular version of the Nexus 10 just yet, so the iPad gets a bit of an edge in that department. I'd say The Nexus 10 makes up for it with the inclusion of NFC, though. Video-out options are nice and open standards like DLNA and HDMI, unlike the iPad 4's proprietary AirPlay and wire adapters. Weight and dimensions are nearly the same, though the Nexus 10 is marginally slimmer and lighter. It looks like the iPad 4 has a slightly larger battery (11,666 mAh according to reports last year), though we'll have to wait and see how that trannslates to real-world usage.

Of course, there's also the difference in price; the Nexus 10 is starting at $100 less than the iPad 4, which may be a decider for many shoppers. In any case, that's just a bird's eye view of how the Nexus 10 stacks up on paper. Which spec difference are most striking to you? (Oh, also, don't be shy about letting us know if any of these specs are off.)

"The 10-inch 2560 x 1600 display on the N10 soundly beats out the 2048 x 1536 display on the new iPad."

Wow, you must have incredible eyesight if you can actually discern that difference.

"There's no cellular version of the Nexus 10 just yet, so the iPad gets a bit of an edge in that department. I'd say The Nexus 10 makes up for it with the inclusion of NFC, though."

You're right, the ability to use a technology as ubiquitous and widespread as NFC more than makes up for the lack of cellular right now. No point even waiting for the cellular version when you've already got NFC on board. What's cellular even gonna give you that NFC can't?!

is anyone else not a fan of how google is trying to merge the tablet and phone interface. I mean this was fine on the 7in nexus 7 screen but in a 10in tablet i dont quite like it. I know its a mute point considering this is android and if you dont like it.... Mod it.... but im just expressing my self.. Either way. 500 for a 32gig is awesome. Just wish it was expandable.. oh well.... Maybe there will be a 64gig to look forward to later..

Not unless they had a complete change of heart and re-wrote iOS from the ground up. An SD-Card would preclude Apple's "app isolation" mentality that iOS is built on. This is why it's so much more difficult to share between apps and why there is no "File Manager" on iOS.

Apple's play the last year or so has been the "Apps" and ecosystem because the hardware and design just aren't there anymore. If you purchase the mini over the Nexus 7 then you're just buying into that ecosystem because you already have a lot invested in it.

The Exynos 5250 is quite the processor in it's own right, and being built the first A15 chip helps a lot too.

The 2GB of ram will also help the Nexus 10 out preform a Note 10.1

The screen in the Note 10.1 is nothing to write home about at all. Quite the opposite in fact. The Nexus 10 on the other hand, is probably going to be the best screen in all of mobile computing so far.

Nexus device, so it could be one or more OS versions ahead of the Note 10.1 at any point.

The Exynos 5250 is by far the fastest mobile processor out there. Cores don't mean everything. The Galaxy Note 10.1 has it's stylus and expandable storage, but the Nexus 10 has a much better screen, better processor, latest version of Android, and will get its updates on time directly from Google...and it's less expensive to boot.

Screen Screen Screen... many people who are breadwinners and who use tablets for productivity don't focus on video games and/or the camera. The Galaxy Note 10.1 has a more than good enough display. But the productivity capabilities of the Galaxy Note 10.1 are unmatched from any other tablet. IMHO

Haha I watched the apple keynote when they presented the apple tablet mini. Before they annonced it, they where talking about their 4th generation apple tablet, and Phill Asshole keep said that: "...With the 4th generation ipad we cant even see our competitors in the rear-morror..." (douch)
And now, after a couple of days ago, we accually have a better tablet than the 4th gen. Only a couple of days after!!!! And its even 100$ cheaper!!!!!!!

You wanna get great US sales? Start by offering it for $100 less than the ipad. Ok, after that you need to get a DISPLAY at the best buys and others like Walmart. Ipad has a crazy light up display and then on the next Isle the android tablets are hurded together. Stupid people go towards the things that are bright and pretty. Get some of those people!